Find out why Miyamoto was so against the use of the peace sign by the plump, lovable plumber. 

Shigeru Miyamoto pushed strongly for a peace sign “ban” in Mario titles. While it isn’t known exactly when he started to push this agenda, in an interview Shigesato Itoi conducted with Miyamoto in 1999, Miyamoto explained that the main reason he wanted to get rid of the peace sign was to help shake the “kiddie” image, and to make sure that people would not only know Mario for the gesture. 

Miyamoto clarified in an interview from 1999 what Mario being mature really meant.

The idea of a “mature,” or “grown up” Mario that was circulating various websites in 1999 was never really clarified in English speaking media, however, Shigeru Miyamoto made it clear what he meant in an interview with Earthbound creator Shigesato Itoi. For Miyamoto at the time, it came down to creating a Mario that could be enjoyed by nearly everyone and not just something that was marketed to children. 

Plus a super energized teaser trailer!

Conception II will be released on April 15 for the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita, Atlus announced today. A teaser trailer was also released today showcasing footage of various characters and battle sequences.

Pre-orders of the game for either system will include special packaging and a soundtrack composed by Masato Kouda, with music from the teaser trailer included on the album.

I trust there'll be no objections?

The original trilogy of Phoenix Wright games is getting another re-release, this time in a special trilogy pack for the Nintendo 3DS in Japan on April 17.

The lengthily-titled compilation, Gyakuten Saiban 123 Naruhodo Selection, collects the first three games in the series onto one 3DS cartridge... Read more...

Back from the grave and into the hands of gamers in Japan, and possibly you soon.

Pokémon Bank is available now on the Nintendo 3DS eShop in Japan. The title, which was originally released on December 25 in Nintendo’s home territory was later removed due to it being a cause of various network issues. A 30-day free trial will be available to those who download the software. Gamers in Japan will have until February 21 to start their trial. After the free trial period, the service will cost 500 yen per year. 

Cue region-locking hatred.

An announcement today from MarvelousAQL Europe revealed that Rune Factory 4’s European release has been canceled.

The game released originally in Japan back in July 2012 and in North America during October 2013 to favorable reviews. It was set for a Spring 2014 release in the EU, but despite MAQL’s best efforts to release it as planned, they stated this morning that “it is, unfortunately, not possible to do so at this time.”

It's on like... never mind.

Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze includes online leaderboards.

The ranking system includes the typical Nintendo rank sorting options. Global Top Rank allows you to to view top records from around the world, while Global Player Rank shows records surrounding your current rank. Friends Top Rank lists the rankings of those on your friend list.

The 8-bit shoveler continues to progress.

Shovel Knight has entered the alpha cycle of development, according to Yacht Club Games. The NES-style action adventure game is planned for both Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. While no release date has been set, Yacht Club indicated that it would be "Past Winter," adding further that this meant past March/April.

Both the Wii U and 3DS are now projected to sell fewer units than initially predicted.

Nintendo has adjusted its 2013 fiscal year predictions, cutting the forecast for Wii U sales from the original figure of 9 million units worldwide to a meager 2.8 million.

On the software side, Nintendo has cut its prediction in half from 38 million units sold to 19 million.

During the holiday... Read more...

Download Unepic in this week's Nintendo Downloads.

This week is mildly medieval with the Wii U platforming RPG, Unepic, and the quest to conquer Dracula in Castlevania II: Simon's Quest.

3DS eShop Sales

Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl - $19.99, until January 27

Wii U eShop Games

Unepic - $9.99

Have you ever set down with a group... Read more...

The fabled reward has returned!

Club Nintendo has released a new Game Card Case in the North American rewards store today, with two themes available. For 400 coins, gamers can choose between The Legend of Zelda or Animal Crossing versions.

The case, shaped like a game box, can carry up to 18 3DS or DS games inside. It comes with... Read more...

A new listing may have outed the Mutant Mudds developer's mystery project.

Renegade Kid, the studio behind the Dementium series and eShop platformer Mutant Mudds, have registered a trademark for a new game titled 'Moon Chronicles'.

The trademark application, unearthed via NeoGAF, follows the recent news that Renegade Kidd had acquired the publishing rights to the Moon... Read more...

Some baseball love could be on the way to a Nintendo platform near you. 

R.B.I. Baseball ’14 is set to arrive on current and last generation consoles this spring, as revealed by Major League Baseball on their official website. No specific platforms have been confirmed, but this could very well mean a release on the Wii, Wii U and/or Nintendo 3DS. Details on the gameplay have also yet to be revealed.

It's been a long time coming, but Nintendo will have some news on the app shortly.

The status of the much-delayed Nintendo TVii service in Europe will be announced "in the near future", Nintendo confirmed in a recent update.

The app, which has been inactive on the European Wii U menu since the launch of the system, was originally intended to launch in 2013, prompting Nintendo to apologise for the extended delay on their official website (discovered via Nintendo Life.)

Speedy buyers were able to make vast savings earlier today.

Nintendo UK's digital store accidentally discounted numerous retail games to less than £10 for a brief time earlier today.

Between 1pm and 2pm GMT, the website was temporarily selling first-party Wii U titles such as Pikmin 3 and The Wonderful 101 for £8.95 each, while 3DS games including Animal Crossing: New Leaf and Mario & Luigi: Dream Team were priced at £7.95. 

Chibi Robo is back in this week's Nintendo Downloads.

It's another slow week for Nintendo Downloads. Though, what this week lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality. After all, Chibi-Robo! Photo Finder is out this week.

3DS eShop Sales

Aqua Moto Racing 3D - $4.49, until January 23

Darts Up 3D - $1.49, until January 30

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers - $19.99, until January 20

Still going strong. As if we had reason to worry.

Nintendo 3DS had a good year in 2013, topping game sales in 2012 by 45 percent and passing 11.5 million in lifetime hardware sales.

The Christmas season saw hardware sales push another million units from the almost 10.5 million number reported in November. Also, according to the officials, shoppers... Read more...

Nintendo is valued higher than Sony

Nintendo's market value has risen to surpass Sony with the opening of the Chinese market, following China's decision to lift the ban on consoles earlier this week.

Upon the suspension of the Chinese console ban, Nintendo's stock prices went up by 11 percent, and Nintendo is now valued at $18.4 billion.... Read more...

Sort of like a Disney Harvest Moon?

Disney Magical World will be arriving on the 3DS April 11, Nintendo announced today. The game, a joint effort between Disney and Namco Bandai, was released last year in Japan to favorable reviews.

Magical World lets players explore different Disney-themed worlds while meeting and helping several... Read more...

The Canadian developer's future lies solely on Nintendo systems.

Next Level Games, the makers of Nintendo 3DS hit Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, will develop all of their future games exclusively for Nintendo platforms, as revealed by Next Level co-founder Jason Carr.

The company remains an independent studio and has not been purchased by Nintendo, but it will now serve as a second-party developer, maintaining its close relationship with the Japanese giant.